Join the Conversation

Blaze ignite, rout Creek 33-7

Tom Kreager, tkreager@dnj.com 10:42 p.m. CDT August 15, 2014

Buy Photo

Blackman’s Ronnie Killings is hit by Stewarts Creek’s Zaine Willliams as he makes a reception during the Rutherford County Jamboree on Friday night at Smyrna High School.
(Photo:
John A. Gillis/DNJ
)Buy Photo

SMYRNA – It was all business for Blackman on Friday night in the Rutherford County Jamboree.

The Blaze scored on five of their six offensive possessions to beat Stewarts Creek 33-7 at Robert L. Raikes Stadium.

"We treated this as a game with preparation and even in school today," Blackman senior Ronnie Killings said. "It was game day. We wanted to come out here and work and show people what we can do."

Blackman finished the game with 238 total yards — 145 yards on the ground and 93 in the air. Tennessee commitment Jauan Jennings was 6-of-8 passing for 93 yards in a little over a quarter of action. Charlie Davidson ran four times for 57 yards.

Jennings played just over a quarter before being replaced by Miller Armstrong.

"I didn't have a plan in stone (for playing time)," Blackman coach Philip Shadowens said. "We have about a nine-day break before we play (against Oakland on ESPN2 on Aug. 24). I wanted to stretch them a little bit and let them know what it feels like with it being a little warm."

Jennings capped a 70-yard drive to open the game with an 11-yard TD pass to Quen Hardy. Hardy's catch came three plays after Lorel Morton reeled in a 57-yard pass from Jennings.

"I kind of snatched it away (from my defender)," Morton said. "But my quarterback put it in a great place."

But Stewarts Creek answered behind senior quarterback Mason Hall and a stout run game. Hall was 3-of-4 passing in the series for 20 yards, his lone action of the game. Marsalis Snowden broke free for a 43-yard TD run, diving into the end zone.

"Honestly, that was a confident boost," Hall said. "We believe we can hang with anyone.

"I heard from my friends coming in that they didn't think we'd score a point. We're a different team this year."

Creek finished with 88 total yards, including 70 on the opening drive.

Hall said the plan was for him to play about a quarter, but he sat after the score because the team was executing its offense well.

Blackman's offense, though, was just warming up. One series later, Blackman moved 47 yards on four plays with Davidson breaking free for a 24-yard TD run. It was the first of four rushing scores. Taeler Dowdy later added a 30-yard TD run when he broke to the outside and stiff-armed a Creek defender to score with 10:40 left in the jamboree.

Blackman's defense forced a safety when backup quarterback Chris Dye threw it away in the end zone and drew an intenetional grounding penalty. Thomas Burks later connected on a 30-yard field goal. Chris Anderson capped the scoring with a 50-yard TD run.

Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.